FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -Derek Jones capped a six-run sixth inning with a three-run home run and No. 23 Washington State defeated Kansas State 9-6 in an elimination game at the NCAA Baseball Regional played at Baum Stadium, Sunday.

With the victory, the Cougars (36-21) advanced to play No. 15 Arkansas, Sunday at 7:05 p.m. Central/5:05 p.m. Pacific. Washington State must defeat the Razorbacks tonight to force a winner-take-all game, Monday. Arkansas can advance to a Super Regional with one more victory. Kansas State (37-22) saw its season end with the loss.

"Our guys battled like they have done all season," WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. "Richie Ochoa gave us a huge lift out of the bullpen."

Ochoa (2-2), a freshman southpaw, pitched four and one-third innings of shutout ball in relief of Cougar starter James Wise to earn the victory. Ochoa gave up two hits, struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Kansas State scored two runs in the first and chased Wise with four runs in the third for a 6-1 lead. Matt Fanelli provided the Cougars' first run with a solo home run leading off the second.

In the fifth, Jones singled in two runs with two outs to pull WSU within 6-3. Michael Weber led off the sixth with a walk and Wildcats' starter Justin Lindsey (4-4) hit Brett Jacobs and Ryan Peterson to load the bases. Shea Vucinich singled in a run and finished Lindsey's day. One out later, Garry Kuykendall doubled in two runs off Kansas State reliever Thomas Rooke. Kuykendall's hit tied the game 6-6, but a base running snafu resulted in the second out of the inning and Ponciano standing at third. After Cody Bartlett walked, Jones launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right-center field for his 12th home run of the season.

WSU NOTES
Washington State's bullpen tied a school record set in 1987 with its 19th win of the season...Paris Shewey made his 29th appearance to tie current Cougar Adam Conley for second on the Cougar single-season list, one shy of Dane Renkert's school record set in 2005...WSU will appear in a NCAA Regional championship for the first time since 1977.